India Hockey Teams Return to Traditional Blue Jerseys

NEW DELHI: (News Desk) – India’s men’s and women’s field hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys at this month’s Asian Games, following criticism over the saffron-colored kits worn during the recent World Cup.

The decision to introduce bright orange and saffron as the primary color at the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands sparked criticism from Hockey India officials and several former Indian players.

Saffron is also closely associated with Hindu nationalism and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), prompting some observers to view the change as politically motivated.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey confirmed that both national teams will wear blue as their primary color at the Asian Games, which begin on September 19 in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan. Saffron will remain part of the kit as a secondary color.

Tirkey said the switch to saffron was never intended to be permanent and acknowledged that he had previously not been consulted about the decision.

Several former India captains, including Pargat Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Ajit Pal Singh and Viren Rasquinha, had publicly criticized the move away from blue, a color historically associated with Indian hockey.

India’s men’s team finished eighth at the recent World Cup and will enter the Asian Games as defending champions. A gold medal in Japan would also secure qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The women’s team, meanwhile, will aim to improve on the bronze medal it won at the previous Asian Games.